RunSight: AI-Powered Smart Glasses Empower Visually Impaired Runners

Jakarta, Indonesia – A team of University of Indonesia (UI) students has achieved global recognition with RunSight, AI-powered smart glasses designed to enhance the safety and independence of visually impaired runners. The project, spearheaded by the Labmino Team, was selected as one of ten Global Ambassadors in the prestigious Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) program.

From Navigation to Track Running: The Genesis of RunSight

The Labmino Team’s journey began with exploring general navigation solutions for the visually impaired. However, through direct observation and interviews, they identified a critical gap: the unique challenges faced by visually impaired individuals during running. Unlike walking or city navigation, running demands faster reaction times, heightened awareness of surroundings, and precise lane guidance.

“Initially we developed a general navigation concept. However, we realized that running has a highly different challenge, it is faster, more dynamic and requires instant response. This is where our biggest pivot occurred. We decided to focus on track running and designed a wearable that is lightweight, based on RGB cameras, so that it is comfortable to use and remains affordable. On the software side, we too transformed from one AI model to a multi-model pipeline so that the directions given are much more precise, and adaptive. For us, innovation is not just about sophisticated technology, but about how technology truly understands the needs of its users,” explained Anthony Edbert Feriyanto from the Labmino Team. Samsung News

How RunSight Works: A Virtual Running Guide

RunSight functions as a “virtual guide runner,” utilizing a combination of sensors and real-time AI processing. The glasses capture video of the surrounding environment, which is then analyzed by onboard AI to detect track lines and potential obstacles. Users receive real-time voice instructions, guiding them to stay centered on the track and avoid collisions.

Technically, RunSight is able to recognize objects around the user, read the running track, and adjust direction based on the user’s speed. Samsung News

Overcoming AI Optimization Challenges

The development of RunSight wasn’t without its hurdles. The Labmino Team faced the challenge of maintaining AI accuracy in dynamic real-world conditions while ensuring the model remained lightweight for real-time processing.

“The biggest challenge is maintaining accuracy when real conditions change, while keeping the model light for real time,” explained Anthony Edbert Feriyanto. Samsung News

To address this, the team conducted rigorous safety tests in various track conditions, accounting for different lighting levels and crowd densities. The system prioritizes safety through conservative rules and frame smoothing, preventing abrupt or jarring directions.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow: Fostering Inclusive Innovation

The Labmino Team’s success is a testament to the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) program, which provides a structured ecosystem for developing innovative solutions. The team utilized the program to validate their concept, design prototypes, and conduct real-world impact testing.

Bagus Erlangga, Head of Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics Indonesia, emphasized that SFT is about cultivating a problem-solver mindset among young innovators. “The Labmino team shows that when empathy is combined with technological capabilities such as AI, solutions are born that are inclusive and relevant to society. This is the kind of innovation that we want to continue to encourage, advanced technology, which is also responsible and impactful,” he said. Samsung News

A Milestone for Indonesian Innovation

The Labmino Team is the first Indonesian delegation to reach the Global Ambassador stage of SFT, marking a significant achievement for the nation. Indonesia is now one of only two countries in Southeast Asia and Oceania to achieve this recognition in the 2025/2026 cycle. RRI

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) has lauded the team’s accomplishment, highlighting the importance of campus support for experimentation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. RRI

The Labmino Team aims to continue developing RunSight, expanding its impact and inspiring further innovations rooted in empathy. They hope to demonstrate that young Indonesians are capable of creating impactful technology to address real-world challenges.